Harrisburg Mall's Boscov's kicks off closing sale Saturday

The last day the Harrisburg Mall Boscov's will be open to shoppers depends on when all the merchandise is sold, said Susan Cronin, spokeswoman for one of the two firms chosen Thursday by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to liquidate assets at 10 stores being shuttered by Boscov's.

That must be on or before Oct. 31, according to the court agreement between Boscov's and the two firms, Gordon Brothers Group of Boston and Hilco of Northbrook, Ill. The date can be extended but only by mutual agreement, the court said.

Boscov's was to transfer ownership of its Harrisburg Mall store and the nine other stores to the two firms as of midnight tonight. The agreement says the two firms by Saturday are to start closing sales aimed at clearing out all store merchandise.

Boscov's earlier this week filed a required mass layoff notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry saying the Harrisburg Mall store closing would begin Oct. 12 and end Oct. 26. The closing could mean up to 108 people losing their jobs at the Harrisburg Mall store, unless these employees can transfer to other Boscov's locations that will remain open, including Colonial Park and Camp Hill Shopping Mall.

If shoppers rush in and clear everything out, the store doors could close much earlier than Oct. 31. It all depends on how fast everything sells.

"Get in there quick because there are good deals to be had," Cronin said. She could not give any specific information on how much items will be marked down.